Editorial: Turning it around

In Washington, at least, here’s proof that government can help stimulate the economy: The “cash for clunkers” program has been so effective that car dealers are running out of cars.

Imagine that.

And many of the new cars hitting the road are better for the environment, which isn’t a bad thing.

The stimulating ride will continue for another few weeks at least. The federal government approved another $2 billion to extend the program into September, after the first $1 billion ran out in a week.

There are other signs that the economy is turning, ever so slowly, around. Layoffs dipped in July, and unemployment dropped nationwide for the first time in 15 months, no small signal that while we’re not out of the woods, we could be nearing the recession’s end.
We’ll find out over the next few weeks if Long Island is behind the curve.

Unemployment in the region jumped to 7.5 percent in June, and 40,400 private sector jobs were lost in the year ended that month. So the next two unemployment releases from the state Department of Labor will be telling.

In the meantime, here’s hoping recent good news is more than a mirage. It has been a long time coming.
Keep shining the light

Charles Wang and Scott Rechler’s plan to revitalize the concrete wasteland surrounding the Nassau Coliseum took another small step forward last week when the Town of Hempstead held its first public hearing on the project.

We’ve written multiple times that the project is necessary because it would create a new blueprint for what makes sense in suburbia and would play a small part in keeping young people in Nassau County. Never mind that it would keep Long Island’s only professional sports franchise where it belongs.

The outpouring of support at the hearing should not be ignored. Neither should the project’s economic benefits. Keep the process moving. It’s the most important development project in Nassau County.